Hobart and William Smith Adding Women's Flag Football

Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY) will add a women's flag football team beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Women's teams at HWS compete as the William Smith Herons. The school also announced it is seeking applicants for the head coaching vacancy.

William Smith becomes the first NCAA Division III Liberty League member to add a club or varsity flag football program. The state of New York has nearly 30 teams slated to play by the start of the 2026-27 academic year. Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, will also begin play in 2026-27.

There's been a flurry of new programs announced in the past week. Cornell College (IA), the University of North Alabama, the University of West Alabama, and Wesleyan College (GA) will also be adding flag football teams. More NCAA and NAIA colleges are expected to add club and varsity teams.

Over three dozen schools have lined up to start a flag football program in the 2026-27 academic year. Among NCAA D-III schools, the list includes: Albright College (PA), Beloit College (WI), Blackburn College (IL), Cornell College (IA), Eureka College (IL), Guilford College (NC), Meredith College (NC), Millikin University (IL), Ripon College (WI), Westminster College (MO), and the six American Southwest Conference schools.

The NCAA is expected to be added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women Program early in 2026 and could achieve NCAA Championship status in 2028. Before flag football makes its Olympic debut during the first week of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the NFL is expected to launch professional men's and women's flag football leagues.